Changing the mindset and the attitude of the Hornet football team was one of Coach Steve Mooshagian’s goals over the off-season. The improvements that needed to be addressed on the team were their performance on the road and the mental and physical toughness of the players, Mooshagian said.

Starting off the season with a 45-0 loss to Boise State, the Hornets have lost 12 straight games on the road. Turnovers, Mooshagian said, greatly impacted four of the Big Sky losses last season. Recruiting was a factor in improving the offensive line this season, bringing in players such as senior tackle Matt Russell and junior center Kyle Leitzke. Both players started in the opener against Boise and pass protection was superb, giving up no sacks in the game.

With key returnees on the offensive side including senior running back Kris Daniels, junior Ryan Mole and senior wide receivers Ryan Coogler and sophomore Bobby Mooshagian, the Hornets have the experience necessary, but still have something to prove with an offense ranked last in the Big Sky last season.

The defense overall is very strong, Mooshagian said, with three returners on the defensive line with sophomore Mike Brannon, senior Adolph Stone, junior Chris Hurts and new recruit junior Dallas Mauga and junior free safety Brett Shelton, who was fifth in the Big Sky conference in tackles with 83, it’s senior line backer Tyson Butler who returns as a captain and emotional leader of the team. Earning honorable mention all-Big Sky as an inside line-backer, Butler said he’s just proud to be part of the team as a captain.

“Accolades come and go, but it means more to me to be a part of the team as a senior and a captain,” Butler said.

But the question still remains on who is the starting quarterback for the Hornets? Junior quarterback Tim Brockwell, a recruit from Glendale Community College, started in the game against Boise State, but had a rough first start, Mooshagian said. Junior Crosby Wehr later came in during the third quarter. Junior Marcel Marquez was ineligible to play due to a transcript-transfer hold.

“It’s different every day,” Brockwell said,” one guy can perform better in practice, but near game time it’s up to the coach who starts.”

The next step in the season is developing the newer players and catching them up with play level of the veterans and the speed of the game for what Mooshagian describes as the toughest schedule in school history.

With match ups against Eastern Washington, Montana State and Montana, who all finished last season at 5-2 and share the Big Sky Conference title, the Hornets are looking at a challenging schedule.

“There are no weak sisters or or gimmie games in the Big Sky, but this group of young men are up for the challenge,” Mooshagian said.

Mooshagian wanted his team to be mentally and physically ready for the upcoming season leading to his naming of Gary Uribe as the Director of Strength and Conditioning. At the start of the off-season the Hornet football team’s fitness level was lacking the strength and stamina to play the game competitively for four quarters, Uribe said.

The focus of the Uribe’s program was to improve the strength and speed of the players. “We don’t want to lose a game because of lack of conditioning.”

Mooshagian said he has seen the change in the team and the work ethic and the attitude made by the players on the field reflects the work done in the weight room. Wehr also said the strength and conditioning training has made a great impact on the team.

“[Uribe] has gotten us mentally prepared,” Wehr said,” The players now want to get better rather than need to get better.”

Sac State opens up at home against Cal Poly on Sept. 16. The Mustangs lead the series 15-14 against the Hornets. Last season, Cal Poly abused the Hornets on the field and won the game 37-13. Led by sixth year head coach Rich ellerson the Mustangs won their season opener against Fort Lewis on Saturday.

Matt Beltran can be reached at [email protected]